Make#timetoread. This Saturday is National Readathon day in America. It is easy to forget that even though you are reading this the basic literacy skills in America are below the average score for developed countries. 40% of American adults are either at or below reading proficiency and 14% have almost no reading skills. According to Wikipedia almost 75% of the world’s 775 million illiterate adults are concentrated in ten countries.

We must celebrate the fact that we can read and are able to send our kids to school where they can get a good education.

A good way to do this is by getting involved in the National Readathon day. You can join readers all across America in a reading session on Saturday, January 24 from 12 till 4. For more information about sponsoring or questions regarding which book to read have a look at penguinrandomhouse.com.

I’m celebrating Readathon day by buying each of my kids a new book and we will spend Saturday reading. Hope you will join in.

One of my favourite children’s authors is Dr. Seuss and borrowing from Green Eggs and Ham, here is my advice on where to read:

You can read here or there.

You can read anywhere.

You can read in a house.

You can read with a mouse.

You can read in a box.

You can read with a fox.

You can read in a car.

You can read in a tree.

And if everyone lets you be,

you can read from 12 till three (maybe four if you’re lucky)

You can read in a train.

I suggest you do not read in the rain.

You can read in the dark (we’ve got Ipad’s now it’s a lark.)

You can read with a goat.

You can read on a boat.

You can read ANYWHERE!

Try it! Try it!

So I say!

I cannot let you be.

I need you to come and Read with me!

Let me know what you decided to read or if you have any suggestions about books you enjoyed with your kids.

What a great poem! We’ve been reading to our little one since he was a few weeks old but now that he’s starting to move around it’s getting more difficult to pin him down to sit still! We’ll have to incorporate it into his nighttime routine.
I tend to read short story books (Shark in the Park is my favourite), while my husband has been reading bits of Matilda to him for months … Who doesn’t love Roald Dahl?!
#weekendbloghop

Love the poem. I was quite surprised to learn that basic literary skills in America are below average for developing countries. My girls both love books and I was a complete bookworm as a child (and still love reading) – it really does unlock such wonderful imaginary worlds.

Hi Mariet. I came via How To Get Organized At Home link up. I love, love your topic. It makes my heart sing to know that you celebrated Read-A-Thon day by buying each of your kids a new book. Literate For Life’s mission is all about creating a literate nation, because the statistics you shared are true. We are a wealthy country with a literacy crisis. We need to pass on literacy in order to have productive citizens. I’m thrilled about your emphasis on literacy. Also, I love Dr. Seuss. Great post. I hope you will check out Literate For Life on the web, Facebook, and twitter. I think you’d like us. Great post.